Player 'critical' after mugging fall

The victim fell 15ft from the wall on to rocks

An American football player is seriously ill in hospital after being robbed and falling from a 15ft sea wall on to rocks.

The 21-year-old, a member of a football team from Washington state was sitting on the wall on Monday when the incident happened in Weston-super-Mare.

At about 2000BST a couple drew up in a VW Golf or Polo car and raced over to him before pulling his rucksack from him seconds before he fell from the wall on to rocks below.

On Tuesday he was being treated at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, after suffering critical head and neck injuries in the Somerset town.

People are committing petty crimes for a quick turnaround of money

Mike Washington, football team coach

A spokesman for Avon and Somerset Police said officers were investigating whether the man was deliberately pushed or had fallen during a struggle.

"This was a completely senseless act," the spokesman said.

"You do not expect a man to come over as a tourist and end up fighting for his life in hospital."

The attacker was described as white, aged between 20 and 25, with dark hair, and wearing a black baseball cap, black shirt and dark trousers.

Mike Washington is coach of the touring team

The car was driven by a white woman in her mid-20s who had a pale complexion and long straight brown hair.

Police said the American victim was on a two-week football tour with 20 friends, who were all staying at the Monaco Hotel in the town.

Mike Washington team coach said: "It's a shock for me.

"People are committing petty crimes for a quick turnaround of money and that appears to be what happened here."

The victim's mother is now flying to the UK to be with her son.